The Baby Maker

by Tia Siren

  “That’s good, because you’re coming out with Debbie and me.”

  I must have missed some part of his conversation that had some importance; I had no idea who Debbie was and then realized it was the girl by the pool.

  “Three’s a crowd!” I replied.

  “Geez, Cam, have you not listened to a word I have said?” he said. I started to giggle again.

  “Karry, Debbie’s friend, the one I just told you about,” he said.

  “I must have missed it when I coughed, sorry,” I replied.

  “Tonight, I’m meeting Debbie and Karry needs a date, you know, nudge, nudge,” Owen said.

  “God, Owen, you want me to bail you out, a blind date, shit,” I said.

  “Oh, come on Cam, just like old times. You and me buddy, painting the town red,” Owen said in over excitement.

  “And the plus side is, if it doesn’t work out with Karry, you will have Katie waiting at home for you. A win, win situation for you old friend,” Owen explained in his simplistic male chauvinistic way.

  “I’m not sure. I’ve had a rough week,” I replied, lying again.

  “Cam, you know I need you. I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t. I could have had them both, but I’m not sure Debbie would appreciate that just yet,” Owen giggled. “So, you gonna be my wingman until then. We won’t be out too long, I promise you.”

  I just wanted to hang up the phone, never mind say no to him. And saying no to Owen was nearly impossible; he would just beat you down with verbal bullshit until you were buried in it, and you finally surrendered.

  “Why do you always ask at the most inappropriate of times for things like this? I’m not really in the mood to go out,” I said truthfully.

  I’d told Katie I had not wanted a relationship, and now here was Owen, trying to fix me up with his new girl’s mate. I had a solitary life before, and now it had all gone to shit. I had gotten it from both sides. If it had not been Katie, it had been Owen. I must have done something terrible in my past life… yep probably.

  I had started to wallow in self-pity and it felt good for a change. I could stay at home with my lovely kid and my life could be quiet and normal, no emotional interference or anything. It was simple. Go to work; go to the day-care and collect Emmy. Then watch her grow up, eat and then go to bed. I mean, what in the world could be better than this for a single dad?

  I had now gone from a reclusive war hero to the savior of young girls. A fucking taxi driver when they had no money, and a serial voyeur every time she came to my house. And now, Owen wanted me to be a freaking gigolo and take his new girl’s friend out as part of the equation. My life as I knew it, had been screwed by the both of them.

  I had never agreed to this sort of date, but I had never been able to tell Owen. He was my best buddy. I always believed that best friends help out when they can. I never wanted him to know this and to think it was too easy to get me to help him out, or he would be asking every other week. I had wanted to call Katie all week, but I had felt like a teenager who had just fallen in love. I was scared that I had scared her off and wouldn’t be able to express myself in a way that could make her understand that what I said was a good option for her.

  I wanted to tell her not to go with the brainbox from college, but I wouldn’t lie to her and what she said had made perfect sense, in the real world. I got the impression that the world I was living in at the moment was very far from real.

  I now had the perfect opportunity to contact Katie and see if she wanted to sit with Emmy for the evening. I knew she would love the chance, but that was before, and now I was not so damned sure how she would react toward me.

  “Cam, come on, just this once, this girl means a lot to me. Fuck, it proves I haven’t lost it,” Owen muttered down the phone.

  I so wanted to say no, but I had been defeated mentally. I had no strength to resist him anymore.

  “Okay, Owen you win, where and when?” I asked.

  “Cam, You’re a real lifesaver. Heh, see what I did there, life saver,” Owen said with a huge laugh and an overly-annoying squeal of excitement.

  Owen explained he had arranged to meet Debbie and her friend at Dougherty’s Irish bar at 9 pm, and could I pick him up and drive as the last favor forever.

  “Sure, I’m not in the mood for drinking anymore, so I don’t mind driving,” I said.

  “I will meet you at 8.30 pm by the church. I don’t want the other half to know I’m going on a date. She might make it difficult with the divorce, if you know what I mean,” Owen explained.

  I so wanted Katie to be busy, and I wouldn’t be able to find another sitter in time. I didn’t know what I wanted, and even when Owen finally let me think, I still didn’t know.

  “Shit!”

  “I do not promise anything, but I will let you know once I have heard from Katie. To let you know if she’s available tonight.” I explained to Owen.

  “Right on buddy. But don’t leave it too late, or my whole plan will go to shit,” Owen said.

  “Owen, you could never make a plan that could be followed perfectly from start to finish, ever since I have known you,” I replied with a laugh.

  “Ha, get off the phone! Hurry up.”

  I thought about Katie and wondered what she would say when I finally contacted her after three days of silence. I had no idea if she would be thankful and grateful that everything would stay the same. It could go the totally opposite way, and she could get upset that I had contacted her at home after the previous events. I was so confused. She might think I just called her because I needed her for something, rather than wanting her to come ‘round to be with me’.

  Owen went off on his tangent again and explained what my blind date looked like and that she was a corporate lawyer who made an excellent living. He also made a point that she had a hot spot for Navy guys and would be all over me like a rash. But that was not something I was really interested in hearing, especially not today.

  “Cam!” Owen said.

  “Yeah, what is it?” I asked.

  “You do realize you will be with a real woman who is your age, and you may have something in common,” he said laughing.

  “You always have to see the funny side of everything,” I said, ready to hang up the phone.

  Owen spent another few minutes telling me about his date, but I thought about Katie and what I would say to her if she decided to turn up and make herself available. She had every right to be angry with me, and I wanted to talk to her and put it right. But the longer it went on, the more difficult it could become.

  Owen decided to end the conversation and re-iterated to reach church at 8.30 sharp and to wear something smart and uniform-like, so I did indeed look like a Navy type, alpha male.

  “Owen!” I yelled.

  “Yeah, what it is Cam?” he asked.

  “Shut up, and I will see you later,” I said and I hung up the phone.

  Chapter 16

  Katie

  I stayed at home all day and just relaxed around the house. I’d tried to keep my mind occupied and tried not to think about the week up until today. I just lay on the bed and had been putting my playlists in order on my phone.

  I felt a little upset that I hadn’t heard from Cam for the best part of the week, and I wondered what the reason for that had been? It could have been one of two reasons. Number one, he was not bothered anymore and had no concern if I went around to his place or not. Secondly, he had felt embarrassed about what had happened and had not plucked up the courage to contact me.

  I wonder if he’s pissed off with me?

  It had been quite an in-depth conversation, and I was proud of myself that I had got my point across without totally losing the plot and bursting into a childish rage. Normally, I would just let my words rip with plenty of F-words. But I had been reserved. Maybe it was because Emmy was there and I subconsciously restricted myself.

  Well done, pat yourself on the back, good girl, Katie.

  I wanted to go around to see h
im and Emmy, but he should make the first move because he was supposed to be the more mature one from the two of us. And, it didn’t feel that way when I had spoken to him. I thought he’d been joking, and maybe he had been. God, but the more we had spoken, the more the conversation seemed to get out of hand. A lover’s tiff, maybe?!

  If I had gone around, it would have shown that I was desperate. And chasing after Cam, regardless of the situation, would have let him know he could do anything and I would cave after a couple of days. That’s not to say I wouldn’t chase him; I would, but not this time. Damn, he could put some effort into the relationship for once, or at least first. I wanted to see if he could be the one to make the initial move to reconciliation.

  I finished sorting all my music on my phone and noticed I had received a text from Cam. Hmm, how ironic, I had just been dissing him and up pops a message from the naughty soldier.

  I wonder if he wants to apologize?

  I looked at the phone and read his text. Hmm, he’d asked what I was doing tonight. I wonder if he wanted to make it up with me? He’d taken his time, but if he did it right, it would all be worth it.

  I wanted to play a little cool and not to seem over anxious, so I did not reply. I lay down, closed my eyes and imagined what it could be like once I reached his house. I would dress in something sexy and flirty just to drive him wild as always. Then, I would casually walk up the road and knock on his front door while seductively leaning against the door frame of the door with one leg raised and one rested on the wall.

  I pictured Cam, in my imagination as he walked to the door in just his shorts, his body rippling and his muscles flexing. His huge cock bulging as he opened the door.

  “Hi there, Cam,” I said. “You wanted me for something?” I said, running my finger across my lips to entice him.

  Cam would look at me and say. “Of course, come on in, Emmy is asleep, I wanted to see you all week.”

  “Have you been exercising Cam? Your body is all moist, and it glistens in the light?” I asked, placing myself on the couch and removing my jacket.

  I wouldn’t wear a bra on purpose, and he would continually look at my nipples as they got hard from his gaze. Mhm.

  “Katie, I want to make it all up to you. It was my fault and I want to make love to you to prove it,” Cam said.

  I pictured him slowly stripping me butt naked and placing me on the couch before he ravaged me. I would forgive him and embrace him and give him the best love I had inside of me, and then, we would have the best make-up sex possible. It would all be back to normal.

  Come on Katie, back to the real world.

  After I had imagined what would happen, I began to follow the steps I’d just thought about. It appeared to be a plan, but it was not a plan in the slightest. It was more like what I wanted to happen. I stood in my closet and chose some appropriate clothes that made me look sexy. If Cam wanted to have sex, these would get him to feel horny and make him unable to resist me. And, if he just wanted to hang out with Emmy and me, these clothes would be comfortable enough.

  A win, win situation for both of us.

  I showered and doused myself in just the right amount of seductive perfume, the slight woody scents just softly flowing from my neck, so he would be unable to resist.

  I got dressed and walked up the street as I had imagined it.

  So far so good. When do we have sex? Lol!

  I walked up the driveway and breathed deeply and clearly. I knocked on the door and stood in the most provocative position I had imagined, one that would be the best to really catch his attention.

  “Hey, what are you doing here?!” Cam asked as if taken by surprise.

  “I just got your text about tonight, so I came straight over to see what it was all about. I guessed you wanted me to come around and give some assistance with Emmy, or maybe you wanted to hang out for a while?” I said as I entered the house and walked toward the living room.

  He looks beautiful!

  “No, there must be a little confusion, I wanted to see if you were available to babysit Emmy tonight?” he answered and walked to the kitchen and fixed Emmy’s bottle.

  Blue denim jeans, Yum!

  Shock raced through my mind when I realized that he had not even mentioned the conversation we had earlier in the week. I wondered if he had forgotten it already. It might have been easier if he ignored the fact that we had it. And now, he wanted to just contact me and see if I could bail him out and babysit for him.

  Ugh, Cam. You’re an ass sometimes.

  “I take it that you’re going out?” I asked and sat on the couch without removing my jacket.

  I felt stupid and embarrassed inside over the fact that I had totally gotten it wrong. This was nothing like what my imagination had taken me past. If that path of events had happened, I would have been naked by now on the couch, and we would be having exquisite makeup sex. But I’m now just looking at a night of a babysitting.

  What the fuck! Now I want to swear. Lots!

  “So, where are you going, if you don’t mind me asking?” I said, slightly pissed and infuriated.

  “I have to meet someone with Owen. He wanted me to do him a huge favor,” he said with his perfect eyes.

  “Ah, so it is a date? A blind date?” Well, who is it? Anyone, I know?” I asked.

  “No, I have no idea who it is. He just called this afternoon about it and asked if you were available to sit with Emmy.”

  “I see,” my heart jumped and beat faster.

  Cam looked at me endearingly. “There is no need for you to get jealous; it’s nothing and I did not want to go. Plus, it’s just Owen. He’s my best buddy, and that’s what we do,” he explained.

  He fucked me last weekend and took my virginity. And as soon as Owen asks him to go with another woman, he’s off like a shot. Did Owen, his buddy, expect him to fuck her as well, or would it only be for drinks?

  I tried my best to hide it, but I couldn’t. But, I did control it better than I expected to. I shrugged my shoulders as my first response to Cam’s statement and just said everything as I saw it.

  “Well, it is no sweat. If you can see someone else for whatever reason, I can do the same thing,” I replied. “In fact, I have the very opportunity to do so.”

  Fuck you, Cam. I was supposed to be yours from now on, no one else’s.

  Cam looked at me. “Katie, there is no need to read too much into it. It means nothing, and nothing will happen.”

  “It’s alright, don’t sweat it. I was asked out again. And so, if you can see someone else, I might just now take the chance as well, and do the same,” I replied.

  “Who is it?” Cam asked as he looked into my eyes for a real reaction to what I was saying.

  “Your favorite friend, you know him quite well,” I answered, “And last time you saw him, you broke his nose.”

  I had started to lie big time now. I had not even seen Peter, and I still had not gotten my bag back from the creepy guy, but I knew this was one person who would get a reaction from Cam.

  “Please tell me it’s not Peter?” Cam asked with a concerned look.

  “I bumped into him the other day when he gave me my bag back, and he asked me out again. I said I would think about it. Um, and now it looks like my mind has been made up for me,” I stated with a grin on my face.

  I could see the change in Cam's expression. The tone of his voice changed from calm to a little angry, to say the least.

  “Katie, you must be out of your mind to even consider going back with him,” Cam snapped. “Do you fully understand what would happen if you did go back out with him?”

  “He said he wanted to make up with me and he was sorry for the way everything happened, and the way he acted. He said it was because he just didn’t understand the situation. But what happened with us last weekend, now obviously that all that has changed. So there is no confusion,” I explained in detail.

  “Geez, that will be the fucking worst mistake of your life if you do tha
t. The guy is a creep. Katie, and if I have to save you again, it won’t be just a broken nose he gets,” Cam said defensively.

  I could see he had become infuriated, but he remained calm. I could understand why he had become a twice-decorated war hero. He was calm under fire, and he can dish out the shit when needed, and he would be relentless until he was safe or he had his victory. Even though he was a Navy SEAL and a war hero, I’d found I could stand up to Cam, because he had a weakness, and he did not want to admit it. That weakness was me. No matter what I said, I knew deep down he wouldn’t hurt me.

  “Cam, I have news for you. You’re not my dad, so you have no right to say what I can do and what I can’t do, you got that?” I said in my tone.

  “Do it, and you will regret it. You would be plain crazy to even think about it,” he retorted.

  “Well, that would be my decision and no one else,” I said as I stood up from the couch.

  “Ha, I think your bluffing,” Cam said, walking around the kitchen counter.

  “Why would I want to bluff about something like that? It's not going to change anything, is it?” I said and walked in a huff.

  “I think you’re doing a bit more than bluffing. I believe that you’re out and out lying about it,” Cam said, standing at the end of the counter.

  “You can think what you want, but that’s the way it is. And unfortunately, if you can’t accept that he wants me, well, Cam Cross, that is your fucking problem and not mine!” I was seething with anger.

  “Now I know you’re lying, and I reckon you’re only doing it because I’m going out with Owen tonight,” he said.

  I was pissed, but I was fighting hard to keep my composure. God, it was me (a little twenty-year-old) up against a decorated SEAL, for fuck’s sake. And you couldn’t write this sort of story; who would believe it?

  I shrugged again as I’d hit a blank spot; any more and I would repeat myself, and he would know I was lying. But he already did.

  Cam approached me without speaking, and we stood toe to toe. He did something that was unexpected. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into his chest. As soon as the smell of his masculinity hit me, I had forgiven him. But I couldn’t tell him this, he would know he had won.